In what's been a de facto quarterback swap, the Patriots have signed QB Brian Hoyer to a reported three-year deal after dealing Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2018 second-round pick before Tuesday's trade deadline.

Hoyer was released by the Niners after the Garoppolo trade and started six games for the team before he was replaced by rookie C.J. Beathard. San Francisco went 0-6 with Hoyer as their starter.

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It's an expected move for New England, which had no other quarterbacks on their roster after the trade and was willing to welcome back a familiar face. Hoyer began his career as Tom Brady's backup after signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent following before the 2009 season. He played in just 13 games during his 2009-2011 stint with the team before jumping around the league to teams like Pittsburgh, Arizona, Cleveland, Houston, Chicago and San Francisco.

Although Hoyer previously wore No. 8 with the Patriots, the team announced he'll sport No. 2.

"We probably had, in my opinion, the best quarterback situation in the league for the last — let's call it two-and-a-half years — it's just not sustainable given the way that things are set up," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday after letting Garoppolo go.

Brady, 40, is still in great shape as the Patriots' lead QB, and it's uncertain how many more years he will continue to take snaps under center.

The Patriots' signing Hoyer gives Brady a chance to play into his 40s and contend for more championships with a veteran back-up as his safety net.